Football Terms Flashcards by Alexis Johnson

A runner in the backfield who carries the ball based on speed and agility. Can be used as a receiver out of the backfield

Halfback

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The leader of the offensive team. He takes the snap from the center and directs the offense passing and running attack

Quarterback

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A large power runner in the backfield who carries the ball in short yardage situations, sometimes used as a blocker

Fullback

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A backfield position who is used as both a receiver and runner

Flanker

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The offensive lineman who starts the offensive play by hiking the ball both under center and in the shotgun formation, usually to the quarterback, the punter, or the holder of the place kicker

Center

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An eligible receiver at the end of the line of scrimmage who is set up out to the side, usually the primary target for the quarterback

Wide reciever

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An eligible receiver at the outside of the line of scrimmage who has stands along with the other lineman with a dual responsibility of blocking and going out for a pass. Usually a big target for the quarterback to pass to

Tight end

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An offensive lineman who is just to the left and right of the center who has the responsibility of blocking to open a hole for the running backs and to pass block for the quarterback. Not eligible to catch a pass

Guard

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An offensive lineman who is just to the left and right of the guards who has the responsibility of blocking to open a hole for the running backs and to pass block for the quarterback. Not eligible to catch a pass

Tackle

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A defensive player who lines up across from the offensive center whose main objective is to stop the run up the middle

Nose guard

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A defensive player who lines up inside the defensive end and whose primary job is to stop the run up the middle

Defensive tackle

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A defensive player who plays off the line of scrimmage in an upright position who has the dual responsibility of stopping the run and covering receivers over the middle of the field

Middle linebacker

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A defensive player who plays off the line who plays in an upright position who has the dual responsibility of stopping the run and covering receivers on the outside

Outside linebacker

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A smaller and faster defensive player who plays off the line of scrimmage whose main responsibility is to cover the pass receivers of the offensive team
Occasionally they will blitz the quarterback

Cornerback

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The last time of defense for the defensive team. They cover the deep treat of the passing team

Safety

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The person who attempts to kick the ball off the ground through the uprights for either a extra point or 3 point field goal

Place kicker

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Used usually in fourth down situations a player whose responsibility is to kick the ball to the receiving team in a change of possession so that they can win the battle of field position

Punter

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An offensive strategy where the use of the pass is more important than the use of the run

West Coast Offense

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Length and width of a football field

Including the end zone, 120 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide

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The target for both field goals and extra points for the place kicker. Any kick within the uprights scores

Goal posts

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On the offensive end of the field, measured 20 yards to the goal line.
Conversion in this area is an offensive statistic

Red zone

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One of the most famous NFL coaches of all time. He coaches the Green Bay Packers in the 60s and 70s

Vince Lombardi

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Given to the winner of the Super Bowl

The Lombardi trophy

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The championship game for NFL football

Super Bowl

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An offensive play that sets up as a pass play and after showing pass the quarterback either runs himself or hands off to a running back

The draw play

Anytime the offensive team crosses the goal line with the ball by run or pass. It counts as 6 points for the offensive team. They are also awarded an extra point, one point by kicking the ball through the uprights, two points by run or pass over the goal line

Touchdown

3 points awarded to the offensive team when the offensive team's place kicker kicks it over the uprights. The longest in history is 63 yards

Field goal

When the ball is kicked into the end zone by a punt or kick off and the receiving team chooses not to run it out or the ball travels through the end zone, the ball is placed on the 20 yard line for the offensive team to start their possession

Touch back

A strategy used on the kickoff by the kicking team to intentionally kick the ball just beyond the 10 yard minimum as a surprise tactic in the hopes of grabbing it before the receiving team so that they gain possession of the ball

Onside kick

After a touchdown or field goal and at the beginning of the game and after the first half, the procedure is for the scoring team to kick to the team who gave up the touchdown or the field goal so that they get their turn on offense

Kickoff

An offensive strategy where the quarterback will show run by pretending to hand the ball off to a running back which freezes the defense and then he will pass the ball

Play action

The strategy of the offensive team to intentionally move a running back sideways before the snap of the ball

Man in motion

Yardage markers on the field that help the officials know where to put the ball after a tackle to start the next play

Hash mark

The play of the offensive team after a touchdown to attempt to run or pass the ball over the goal line

2 point conversion

The strategy of the offensive team to change the play at the line of scrimmage before the snap of the ball

Audible

A running pattern of a receiver where the receiver will run a certain distance down the field and then turn and come back to the quarterback to expect a pass from the quarterback

Button hook

A deceptive play by a receiver where they will show a button hook to draw the defensive player forward, and then turn and go long for a pass from the quarterback

Hook and go

A pass play where the receiver on the outside, cuts on a 45 degree angle to the middle for usually 5 to 10 yards to catch a pass from the quarterback

Slant

A pass play where the offensive team allows the defensive players to rush the quarterback only to find out that the offensive team has set up a wall of blockers for a running back. The short pass to the back can turn into a large gain of yardage

Screen pass

The amount of time allowed between running plays on offense

Play clock

Anytime that the offensive team loses control of the ball during a running play. If it is picked up by the defensive, they gain control of possession

Fumble

The defensive strategy of stopping the advancement of the offensive player with the ball by forcing them to the ground

Tackle

An illegal move by a blocker by hitting the defensive player from behind. It results in a penalty for the offense

Clip

The surprise attack of a defense to send more than the normal amount of rushers to attempt to sack the quarterback

Blitz

The statistical term for when a defense is successful in tackling the quarterback before he passes the ball behind the line of scrimmage

Sack

The name of the playoff system used in college football to determine the national championship each year

BCS: Bowl Championship Series

An offensive play where the ball is passed/tossed backwards usually to a running back. The key is that the ball is a live ball so the offensive team must catch or recover it before the defensive team is in position. A lateral is not considered an incomplete pass, therefore possession is possible for either team

Lateral

Any time the defensive team catches a forward pass by the offensive team. The interception would give possession of the ball to the defensive team

Interception

The action of the quarterback the pocket and move out to the left or right to gain more time to throw the ball or possibly run

Roll out

An offensive play where the running backs led by a number of blockers attempt to run to the outside either left or right in the hopes of gaining a lot of yardage with a run

Sweep

The position on the field where the offensive team will use all 4 downs to gain the first down because they do not gain any advantage in punting because of the shortness of the field on the offensive side

4 down territory

A forward pass done in an underhand fashion usually for a short distance to a running back out of the backfield

Shovel pass

A penalty on the team for crossing the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Is is a 5 yard penalty

Off sides

A penalty on the offensive team for moving before the snap of the ball usually by the movement of an offensive lineman. It is a 5 yard penalty

False start

This is a play done by the receiving team on a kick off or punt where by waiving the arm in the air he signals to the punting or kicking team that he is not going to run but through that signal will catch the ball and just stand still. The receiving team will start their offensive possession from that point. After seeing the signal for a fair catch it is against the rules for the punting or kicking team to touch or tackle the returnee

Fair catch

A strategy used by the punting team to on purpose kick the ball out of bounds in the area of the 10 yard line and the goal line of the receiving team. This puts the offensive team deep in their own territory as a starting point for their offensive possession

Coffin corner

There are 3 forms of play in football. Offense, defense, and special teams. Special teams refer to the kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return teams during a football game

Special teams

A penalty for illegally holding a player. It can occur on both offense and defense. It is a 10 yard penalty

Holding

This is a penalty on the offense for some illegal play or formation. Usually it is called for too many men in the backfield

Illegal procedure

This is the placement of the ball at the beginning of each play. Both the offense and defense will line up on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage when the referee signals that the ball is in play

Line of scrimmage

The act of the offensive team gaining by pass or run the appropriate distance to the first down marker. By rules, 10 yards is the designated distance to achieve a first down

First down

A penalty where the offending team either offense or defense is backed up in its own territory so that the full distance of a penalty cannot be measured because of the distance is greater than what is appropriate for the team in relation to the goal line. 20 yards and less is the distance where this rule on penalties would be assessed

Half the distance to the goal

How many players on the field at a time?

Each team has 11 players

How many players need to be on the line on offense?

In order for a offensive play to be correct their need to be a minimum of 7 players on the line of scrimmage

How many players can you have in the backfield?

On the offensive team there can only be a max of 4 players in the backfield at one time. There can be less but there can't be more

The strategy of a defensive team to not cover receivers man to man but for them to use the defensive players to cover areas of the field

Zone defense

The offensive strategy of having the run start in one direction, say to the left side, as a decoy only to reverse field with another back or receiver and run the opposite way to the right

Reverse

An offensive strategy where the quarterback will try to throw the ball a long distance to the end oxen where he will send a few of his receiver's in the hopes that one of them will catch it. This is done at end of the game, or half because time is running out and the need to score is important

Hail Mary

A strategy where the defensive team will play off the line of scrimmage to prevent the offensive team from scoring the "big play" at the end of the game or half. The idea is that offensive team needs to score to win so the defense will give up anything short to stop a score

Prevent defense

An indoor model of football that is played in a hockey style arena

Arena league

Located in Canton, Ohio. Upon completion of a player or coaches career they can be voted into the hall of fame based on their career accomplishments

NFL hall of fame

The only team to go undefeated in a season. 17 wins and 0 losses.

72' Miami dolphins

The offensive strategy to not use a traditional quarterback and under center formation but rather adopt a multiple running back strategy

Wildcat

A defensive player who lines up on the line of scrimmage who attempts to stop the run and rush the quarterback in passing situations

Defensive end